THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. – The surging Wisconsin Lumberjacks improved to 6-0-1 in their past seven games after defeating the Thief River Falls Norskies 5-2 Wednesday evening in a Superior International Junior Hockey League match-up at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Wisconsin opened the scored 11:36 into the contest, late on a power play, as Parker Brakebill let a shot go from the right point that clipped off Dalton Garcia parked in front and in to give the guests the lead.
A fortuitous bounce to begin the middle stanza helped the Lumberjacks add to their lead just seven seconds in as a Darren Shykes attempt took a wild hop off the ice and skipped over the shoulder of Norskies netminder Seth Purcilly for his first SIJHL goal.
Then then got another one at 14:12 as Cade Moreland banked one off the back of Purcilly from behind the goal line and in to give the guests a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes.
Thief River Falls did get on the board early in the third when Mason McIntosh fed Jonah Henderson, who knocked in his ninth after a couple of cracks at it.
In the late going, Ryley Cardinal put one into an empty net to make it 4-1 with 70 seconds to go.
Coming back though, Bryce Johnson answered at 19:39 with his 19th, which matches a career season-high.
However, Ryan Green added another empty net effort in the final moments to round out the night’s scoring.
Tyler Shetland chipped in with two assists to aid the Wisconsin cause.
Hunter Adams made 38 saves to get the win for the Lumberjacks while Purcilly stopped 30 of 33 in defeat.
Photo credit: Tim Benton